BendPak - Backyard Buddy Comparison
Detailed images that compare the superior quality of BendPak car storage lifts to Backyard Buddy car storage lifts (a competing brand).
BendPak - Backyard Buddy Comparison
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The information posted below is based on the side-by-side comparison study administered by BendPak®.
Statements attributed to Backyard Buddy™ are taken from their website and other marketing materials. |
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Separating Fact from Fiction
Remember — just because you pay more for something, doesn't make it better. In the highly competitive auto
lift business, especially the DIY sector, many judgments are being passed on with no merit based solely on
prices consumer are being quoted. Always study thoroughly, then look, compare and decide.
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Statement “As the largest manufacturer of four-post freestanding auto lifts for the residential and commercial market, BYB is proud to offer a full-line of lifts for cars, trucks and recreational vehicles of all kinds.” |
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Statement “Our automotive lifts for home use offer accessory kits like solid inserts and drip pans which make our lifts much more versatile than you may expect. They are perfect for storing ATV's, snowmobiles and other seasonal vehicles while providing usable space under the elevated platform.” |
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 ResponseBendPak can supply these valuable options as ll.  |
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Statement |
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 ResponseBendPak has over 650 installation and service centers located in the United States - fully equipped installation and service centers with truck fleets that make a living installing and servicing large car dealerships, national accounts, auto repair centers and occasional auto enthusiasts and DIY’ers. |
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Statement |
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| Response BendPak has a staff of seven full-time engineers who do nothing but design, test, and evaluate lift systems. BendPak lifts have changed and evolved over the past 40-years not because they like making changes but because they are constantly improving the structural integrity and design of their lifts to meet constantly changing world standards. On the surface, many lifts look “engineered”, but what lies under the surface? All BendPak lift designs are computer modeled for design function and structural integrity then undergo simulation of applied forces, axial force, bending moment, etc. using Solid Works Cosmos and other FEA programs. After the design is sound, they proceed with actual destructive (physical) testing.
There is only one real national lift standard for quality and safety - OSHA endorsed ANSI/ALI ALCTV-2006. If you don’t see any reference to this standard, then ask yourself if saving a few extra bucks on a non-certified lift is |
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Statement “Don't rely on automobile scissor lifts or cheap drive on auto lifts to handle your precious cargo or your safety. Economy platform lifts, which are most often imported, may appear to have attractive prices but they severely cut corners in the areas of quality, design, performance and safety.” |
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| Response Why are BYB lifts not approved to meet the requirements of ANSI/ALI ALCTV-2006? - Quite simply, because their lifts could not pass the standard. Particularly their lack of a slack-cable lock system, a substantiated engineering report from an accredited PE (professional engineer) verifying that all components could withstand a load of 300% capacity with no permanent yield or deformation of any kind, their absence of an ample cable guard to prevent unintentional displacement, and more. |
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BendPak photo of HD-9 Series
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Common Misleading Claims:
Any claim that implies "This lift is ALA Certified" is worthless. ALA (Automotive Lift Association) is reported to Any claim that implies "This lift is MAMTC Certified" is worthless. MAMTC (Mid-America Manufacturing The proliferation of Asian products in this country is making it difficult to remain competitive, but remaining |
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Statement “Don't gamble with your investment. Trust the company that has been manufacturing the highest quality automotive lifts for home use and is the largest manufacturer of four post lifts to provide you with a product that you will be proud to own and feel safe using.” |
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| Response Reduce the “gamble” by purchasing a lift from BendPak - a manufacturer involved not only in the hobby and DIY markets, but professional auto care, OEM dealerships, specialty equipment and commercial parking industries for over 40-years. |
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Statement “Have a classic car, collector car or antique car that you are working on or would like to store? We have the perfect automotive lift for you. Classic car restoration is a popular use for our products. Feel free to view our side-by-side comparison info which measures the quality and performance of the Backyard Buddy automotive lift against the characteristics of the typical imported economy lift. You will see that for safety, performance, durability and overall value the only choice is Backyard Buddy.” |
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| Response With respect to a side-by-side product comparison of BYB to BendPak, this is propaganda, unwarranted and meaningless. BendPak does not fit the bill of “the typical imported economy lift”. BendPak urges you to lookcompare- and-decide before making your purchasing decision and no matter what propaganda is thrown at you, think rationally, wise and with reason. Learn to separate fact from fiction. Above all ‒ don’t be suckered into thinking that just because it costs more, it must be better. |
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Statement “Other lifts are made from lighter gauge metal with channels that are cold formed creates weak points at the bends.” |
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| Response Again, more propaganda - cold-formed steel is widely used in buildings, automobiles, equipment, utility poles, storage racks, highway products, and bridges. ADVANTAGES OF COLD-FORMED STEEL - Cold-formed steel products are shaped at ambient temperatures Formed Metal Building Construction Curious question you should ask yourself — the cost of press brakes, bending brakes and roll-forming |
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 Statement“Other lift suppliers need stamped holes in foot to add stability to lift by anchoring it to the floor. Backyard Buddy requires no anchors.” |
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| Response BendPak adds anchor holes to the lift base plates because many buyers choose to bolt their lifts to the floor and BendPak’s certification was awarded WITHOUT BEING ANCHORED. BYB implies that bolting the columns to the floor offers no real stability benefit which is absurd. With BendPak four post lifts, you have a choice - secured or free-standing. During the entire first half of the hit show Monster Garage, at their original set location, with all the hammering and banging going on, their BendPak lift was never anchored to the floor. (The lift needed to be mobile because after the vehicles entered the work area, the film crew had to rotate the lift 90-degrees to accommodate the proper camera angle.)  |
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Statement “Other lift suppliers use anti-spread bolts at top to keep legs from opening when weight is added to the lift.” |
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| Response BendPak lifts do not incorporate an “anti-spread” bolt and are not prone to “opening” when loaded. |
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Statement “BYB columns are made from rugged, structural 4X4 steel tubing.” |
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Response BendPak urges you to talk to a qualified structural engineer and ask if the loads being placed on the columns would be significant at all to warrant excessive design(s). The columns on all BendPak four-post lifts were tested and certified at 27,000-pounds are designed with a safety-factor that far exceeds 300% of the rated load capacity required to meet ANSI/ALI ALCTV-2006. |
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Statement “Other lift suppliers use plastic sliders on the inside of the legs that wear over time as they rub on metal increasing the possibility of failure.” |
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| Response BYB uses “plastic” sliders on their cross tubes so why would they discredit their use? The below photo illustrates the BYB plastic sliders which are external rather than internal. Curious question ‒ would you be encouraged to grease the BYB columns to keep the sliders free - and if so, does that not make a mess on the outside of the columns? Another question - will the nice paint finish on the BYB columns become dull with abrasion marks after use? |
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| The “plastic” for BendPak sliders is not “plastic” but rather UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular weight) Polyethylene. There is little if any load on the slide blocks so they will not “wear over time” like BYB suggests. UHMW is often referred to as the world’s toughest polymer. UHMW is a linear high density polyethylene which has high abrasion resistance as well as high impact strength. UHMW is also chemical resistant and has a lowcoefficient- of-friction which makes it highly effective in a variety of applications. BendPak slide blocks are simply guides that keep the cross tubes and safety ladder centered within the column and minimize sway. BendPak lifts feature cable sheaves that are precisely centered within the cross tube meaning the cross tube |
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Statement “BYB uses a closed steel leg surrounded by an exterior steel support jacket that ensures positive contact and does not create an opportunity for legs to fail under the weight of your vehicle.” |
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| Response There is a reason that BYB is probably the ONLY lift company in the world (out of approximately 200 globally) to use this design. That’s because it makes a better brake than a lift component. Think of an adjustable welding clamp or other slide-lock type device - they employ similar design features. Columns that use this design feature are more apt to seize should an unlevel situation occur. Below is an actual forum posting on www.corvetteforum.com:
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Statement “BYB uses a closed steel leg surrounded by an exterior steel support jacket that has no chance for leg to spread open.” |
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| Response Loads are insufficient enough to cause any spreading so continuing to highlight this feature is solely propaganda. However, because of their external tube sliders, BYB can’t mount their 95-pound power unit securely to a column - instead it is mounted on a wobbly motor stand that is positioned uncomfortably low (they make the pole stand short to minimize flex) causing operators to slouch when reaching for the controls. Backyard Buddy power unit mounted on stand BendPak power unit attached firmly to column |
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Statement “BYB features all steel construction, no plastic components provide a more durable performance and a stronger lift solution.” |
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| Response BendPak has never, or ever intends to use plastic components for any suspension specific part. In regards to “more durable performance” the BYB sheave design does not compare to BendPak. The axles on BYB cross tubes are supported only at one end which means the loaded cable sheaves are constantly trying to bend the axle rod when loaded. If the axle yields under load, even if slightly, the axle will not remain perpendicular with the load path. This will cause non-concentric movement of the sheave causing premature wear of parts and cables. BendPak sheave axles are supported at both ends so the axles and sheaves remain exactly perpendicular to the load path at all times. |
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Statement “Other lift suppliers make their runways from soft tread plate which is bent to form the runway creating weak points at the bends and no under runway reinforcement means more flexing of runway surface. BYB runways are made from a superstructure of angle iron toped with tread plate. Welded flat stock ties sides together under the runway surface adding an additional level of support and integrity to the lift.” |
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| Response There is no such thing as “soft tread plate” so this is purely propaganda. The steel used on BendPak runways far exceeds 58,000-lb. yield which is equal to or better than standard “pig iron” diamond plate whose purpose is primarily for traction rather than strength. BendPak runways were tested and certified at 27,000-pounds and are cold-formed steel. They also feature under runway reinforcements that create a box shape for increased strength and stiffness. Cold-formed steel possesses one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any building material. BendPak lifts are designed and tested to meet the only REAL lift certification standard, ANSI/ALI ALCTV-2006, with a safety factor that exceeds 300% rated load capacity - enough said. |
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Statement “Other lift suppliers provide no quick disconnect. L shaped coupler with Teflon tape means that hose can kink and cause a blow-out. No flow restrictor means that the lift will instantly slam to the ground in the event of a blow-out. Quick connect means that hose will not kink and can swivel. Installed flow restrictor means that the lift will maintain position even in the event of a problem with the hose. don't cut corners when it comes to your safety and the protection of you vehicle and property.” |
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| Response All of BendPak lift cylinders use internal flow-restrictors to prevent rapid fall in case of a hose or fitting failure. This is a worldwide safety standard that is required for all commercial lift manufacturers. International lift standards prohibit the use of quick-disconnect fittings on vehicle or personnel lift applications. Quick disconnect fittings have spring loaded ball-in-seat components. If the ball does not “seat” like you expect it due to contamination or faulty ball-seat, there is nothing to shut off the flow of oil and the uncontrolled descent of your lift. Hose “blow-outs” simply do not occur under normal use. As part of the ANSI/ALI ALCTV- 2006 standard all BendPak hoses have a 400% safety factor based on the pressure required to operate the lift at its rated load capacity. |
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Statement “Other lift suppliers use only a 3/4 inch contact surface for locking mechanism. Very unstable when you combine this with the loose construction which causes the lift to sway.” |
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| Response This does not apply to BendPak lifts as their design is not at like BYB describes. All BendPak four-post lifts do employ eight independent safety lock devices, four primary and four back-ups. BendPak Safety Lock System Features Slack-Cable Backup |
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Statement “Other lift suppliers use a formed channel leg design that creates pivot point on the legs for the lift platform to sway on. Try pushing their lift and you will see how much it moves.” |
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| Response BendPak lifts are just as solid as BYB and experience virtually no sway. Through numerous inquiries and research and countless on-site testing of lifts in use, BendPak lifts experience less sway than BYB, Auto-Lifters or other external tube designs. |
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Statement “Other lift suppliers use stop points that are made from welded tabs on the legs.” |
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| Response BendPak’s adjustable ladder provides adjustment for unlevel floors enabling your vehicle to sit safely in a level position even if your floor is unlevel - an important feature that BYB lacks. BendPak features additional lock positions providing greater versatility. |
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Statement “Other lift suppliers use ¼” billet rod for their locking systems that allow for bowing and more problems for you. BYB uses 3/8” rod that ensures positive locking and no bowing.” |
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| Response BendPak commercial-grade pneumatic safety lock system ensures that your locks release simultaneously every time. BYB lifts use linkage rods to release the four spring loaded locks ‒ that means a lot of resistance to overcome. That combined with the accumulation of slop for all of the linkage points means that the safety lock furthest from the operator has a good chance of not being “pulled back” far enough. Think about what would happen if three corners descended and one stuck. The worst cause of lift failures or vehicle “drops” are caused by the runways becoming unlevel due to seized column or stuck lock. Mechanical linkage systems are more prone to seizure and failure. Can you really see the far corner with a vehicle in the way? |
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Statement “BYB features 10 positive locking positions cut into the 4X4 structural steel tube legs, not welded on.” |
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| Response BendPak features 13 adjustable lock positions providing greater versatility and storage height coverage. BendPak does not incorporate welded-on blocks as a stop device. |
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Statement No lateral movements (sway) with virtually no chance of falling. |
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| Response BYB uses “plastic” sliders in the columns just as BendPak does. BendPak fits all cross tube lifting components precisely to minimize “sway” just as BYB does. Through numerous inquires and research and countless on-site testing of lifts in use, BendPak lifts prove to experience less sway than BYB, Auto-Lifters or other external tube designs. |
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Statement Steel locking insert goes into the leg cut out and the steel slider jacket rests on this to create a "fused" system for holding your lift in the exact position you intended. |
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| Response Huh — “fused” system? |
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| Final thoughts: BYB is a qualified and respected supplier of lifts, but from a design standpoint, their lift doesn’t even come close to a BendPak. Not one component on their lift exceeds the quality of a BendPak. If you review all of the BYB propaganda you will notice their entire sales pitch circulates around their column design. They purposely make it that way so that they have something “unique” to offer, that’s It. It is only unique - it is not safer, better, stronger, or more stable. There's a reason they spend 100% of their time boasting about their unique column design — because they don't want you to ask about...
Other BendPak design features:
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| Bottom Line BendPak lifts are actually sold for slightly less (in most cases) than BYB because they sell less volume and have to charge more. |
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